Chapter 221: “compensated With Red Potion”
“Shh, don’t bark, you’ll wake Qian Bao and Yao Bao.” Yu Bao shushed the dog.
Amber didn’t bark anymore, wagging her little tail and circling the bed.
Da Huang squatted at the door; it had come in for one purpose: to wake the twins.
Yu Baoheng Bao put on their clothes, helping each other straighten collars and sleeves, then put on their white shoes.
Yu Bao bent down to pick up Amber, called Heng Bao to go out; Da Huang followed closely, not forgetting to paw at the door to close it.
Lin Zhao saw the twins’ shoelaces were crooked and loose; she couldn’t help but smile.
She squatted down to adjust them for the two.
“After so long, you still can’t tie your shoelaces?”
Yu Bao stuck out his right foot, staring at his mother’s smiling face, and smiled along.
“I can.” His voice was light and soft, “Just not well tied. Wait till we’re six, we can tie them really well.”
Lin Zhao glanced at him and nodded: “Right, wait till you grow another year, you’ll tie them even better. You’re already great now.”
Yu Bao’s smile was brilliant.
Lin Zhao tied the shoelaces for the two cubs and instructed them to wash up, then went to pack the things they needed to bring.
“Where’s Uncle?” Heng Bao asked while brushing his teeth, noticing he hadn’t seen Uncle Yun Jin, so he spoke up.
“Gone to buy breakfast.” Lin Zhao replied.
“What is it?” Heng Bao’s eyes lit up.
“Buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk.”
“I like them all!” Heng Bao said with a grin, continuing to brush his teeth.
Lin Zhao: “Then eat some of each.”
“Mmm.” Heng Bao nodded emphatically, his expression very serious.
As they spoke, Song Yunjin pushed the door open and came in.
Seeing the twins brushing their teeth, he called out: “Yu Baoheng Bao are up! How are you so obedient today? I didn’t even have to shake you awake.”
Yu Bao wouldn’t say that he had told his brother last night not to stay in bed. Mom would make time to go to school in the morning; they had to behave well and not make Mom angry.
Heng Bao said: “My brother and I grew up another day. We plan not to stay in bed anymore.”
“Oh wow, really?” Song Yunjin set down the breakfast he bought, picked up a bun to eat, and looked teasingly at the two cubs.
“Really. Even little kids know a promise is worth a thousand gold.” Heng Bao puffed out his chest proudly.
Song Yunjin laughed heartily, “Then you have to persist; no fishing for three days and drying nets for two.”
Heng Bao wiped his hands and face, then trotted over, taking a sip of soy milk first.
He didn’t understand what fishing for three days and drying nets for two meant, but his brain was quick and he vaguely got the gist.
“I won’t! Dad says my brother and I are the most persistent little friends!”
Song Yunjin was in a hurry to go to school, quickly finished the bun in his hand, went inside to grab his schoolbag, and laughed: “Alright, the most persistent little friends!”
He realized that when his four cubs said they were… whatever little friends, they were especially cute.
Song Yunjin shouldered his schoolbag and said to Lin Zhao: “Sis, I’m off to school. Any heavy work, leave it; I’ll do it when I get back.”
Lin Zhao nodded, “No need to bring me lunch at noon; I’ll take the four cubs to the state-run restaurant.”
She glanced at the twins who had their heads down and helplessly explained: “These two got called in for parents. After I meet the teacher, I’ll take them to eat.”
Song Yunjin said: “Okay.”
He was a high school student; school started earlier than for the twins, or he could have taken them.
With that, he dashed out the home door like the wind.
Heng Bao took a bite of a bun, then a bite of fried dough stick, fulfilling the little wish from when he was hungry back then.
Just then, the door was knocked on, and Bang Bang and the others’ chattering voices came in.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, are you ready? We’re almost late!” Lai Mei shouted loudly at the door.
Heng Bao jumped down from the stool and dashed to the door, “Right away, we’re eating breakfast. Wait till we finish and we’ll go.”
He ran to the door, bringing the fragrance of meat and oil.
Gu Family children who had half a sweet potato each for breakfast, their eyes involuntarily followed his hand.
“Then eat; we’ll wait for you.” Bang Bang sat on the stone by the door, and after sitting, didn’t forget to pull his brothers.
Lai Mei didn’t notice and plopped her buttocks on the stone, wincing in pain.
Lin Zhao came out of the house, “Why not come in?”
She looked at Alan, her tone gentle, “Alan, bring your younger brother and sister in to eat some too. Bought a lot this morning.”
Yu Bao said: “My mom had Uncle buy buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk. There’s lots. Lan Lan Sis, Brother Bang Bang, Lai Mei Bro, Brother Tie Dan… come quick and eat while hot. After eating, we’ll go to school.”
As he spoke, he reached out to pull Gu Lan.
Heng Bao pulled Lai Mei and Tie Dan.
They all went in; Bang Bang had no chance to dissuade and could only follow.
One bun each, one fried dough stick each; their bellies full of oil and water. The growing children… finally had a sense of fullness.
Especially Tie Dan; the moment he bit into the bun, he nearly cried.
Later, he became a famous writer and mentioned this experience repeatedly.
He even wrote it into his books.
【When I was little, my family was poor; often two or three months without tasting meat. I was growing then, hungry hungry hungry every day… This made me listless for everything, my mind full of one thought—find something to eat.
At that time, Zhiyu and Zhiheng went to school; Bang Bang Bro and I had a new task: pick up Zhiyu and Zhiheng for school every day, escort them home after dismissal. I had no opinion; even secretly a bit happy inside, because I knew Third Aunt never let us work for nothing.
Sure enough, every few days Third Aunt would give us extras: sometimes mung bean cake, sometimes meat buns, sometimes invite us for fragrant white noodles…
Thanks to Third Aunt’s support, us brothers had a better childhood than other village kids, and grew half a head taller than them.
We brothers have been close since childhood; grown up and busy with our own things, but feelings unchanged, we gather now and then, always at Third Branch.
Brother Bang Bang, Lai Mei Bro and them don’t say it, but I know they, like me, are grateful to Third Uncle and Third Aunt, and close to them.】
…
After breakfast, Lin Zhao saw Bang Bang and the others off.
She turned to lock the door and led Qian Bao and Yao Bao to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
“Yao Bao, Mom’s going to work; you and brother sit nicely, no fussing. If hungry, thirsty, or need toilet, tell me. Don’t run around; mornings are crowded. If you two run off, I won’t know where to find you.”
On the way, Lin Zhao instructed the two cubs.
Qian Bao tilted up his fair tender little face, long eyelashes fluttering, nodding solemnly, “Mm, got it.”
Yao Bao nodded hurriedly too, “Bao also knower!”
Her speech was milky; when anxious, pronunciation unclear.
“Not knower, know.” Little obsessive-compulsive Gu Qianbao corrected his sister.
“Know.” Yao Bao was very obedient.
“Right.” Affirmation from brother, “Yao Bao is great.”
Hearing brother’s praise, Yao Bao bounced in place twice, humming a tuneless melody.
Lin Zhao’s gaze softened, “What is Yao Bao singing? So nice.”
Yao Bao grinned with her cherry little mouth, eyes curving, sweet like cotton candy, “Buji Dao, learned from Grandfather.”
Chatting along the way, mother and two children arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Li Fen spotted the two cubs from afar, her face piling with smiles.
“Finally brought the two cubs.”
She brought two little stools, laid handmade cushions on them, and called to Lin Zhao: “Bring Qian Bao and Yao Bao to sit here; specially prepared for them.”
“Stool from A Ju, cushion I made. Nothing valuable.”
They had heard last week that Lin Zhao would bring the two cubs to work, so prepared these in advance.
Lin Zhao felt surprised and smiled thanks: “Thanks Sister Fen, and thanks A Ju.”
Wang Ju took Yao Bao’s hand, lifted her onto the stool to sit properly, touched the child’s soft hand, corners of mouth unconsciously rising, eyes turning starry.
So cute! So soft!!
So good so good!!
“No need thanks; I like Qian Bao and Yao Bao.”
Just, Qian Bao always had a stern little face, didn’t smile much, gaze at people very calm, making one dare not touch him; Yao Bao different, smiled welcomingly at everyone, eyes curving in smile, milky voice calling sister, cute to hard to stay rational.
Lin Zhao to the dragon-phoenix twins: “Thank sister; the little stool you’re sitting on is from sister. Also thank Aunt Fen.”
“Thanks sister, thanks Aunt Fen.” Two milky cute voices rang out.
Li Fen clutched her chest, “Zhaozhao, how are you so good at having kids? Four cubs, each more good-looking than the last, each smarter than the last. I’m so envious I’m dying.”
“Da Jun and Xiao Jun are obedient too; they listen to whatever you say. What more could you want?” Lin Zhao chided her.
Da Jun and Xiao Jun were Li Fen’s two sons.
Li Fen laughed out loud, then asked: “Where are Yu Bao and Heng Bao? Your brother take them?”
“My nephews and nieces pick them up for school every day.” Lin Zhao said.
“Then you’re really worry-free.” Li Fen’s impression of Gu Family improved more.
She suddenly remembered something, looked at other salespeople, saw them all busy, not noticing them, whispered to Lin Zhao: “Didn’t you want a bicycle ticket? I know someone selling one, but price a bit high. Want it?”
“Want!” Lin Zhao said quickly, “I want it!”
“Fifty yuan, you really want? Fifty is two months’ salary for me; hearing that price, I had no thoughts.”
“Want.” Lin Zhao still that word.
She explained: “My elder brother works at the motor factory, home is far, commute troublesome. Long wanted to get him a bicycle ticket, never came across one.”
“Not to mention fifty; more expensive I’d buy. Bicycle tickets too hard to get!”
Speaking of this, Lin Zhao just felt nauseous.
Every night she did lucky draws, never got a bicycle ticket; instead all sorts of supplies piled up, filling the storage ring.
Li Fen saw Lin Zhao really wanted it, “Okay, bring it tomorrow morning.”
Including bicycle ticket money, a bicycle over two hundred; Zhaozhao really generous to her elder brother.
Lin Zhao showed a happy smile, “Thanks Sister Fen.”
“No big deal, just a word.” Li Fen said casually, touched Yao Bao’s little face, happily went to work.
Like other salespeople, now and then glanced at dragon-phoenix twins, corners of mouth unconsciously upturned.
…
Noon.
Lin Zhao entrusted the counter to Li Fen and Wang Ju, took Qian Bao and Yao Bao to school.
Just at school gate, Yao Bao’s excited little milky voice rang: “Bro, bro!”
Her fair tender little finger pointed at school, eyes bright as stars.
“Right, your eldest brother and second brother inside.” Lin Zhao said.
Smoothly entered school, found twins’ class teacher’s office.
Knocked and entered.
“Teacher Pan, I’m Gu Zhiyu’s and Gu Zhiheng’s mom.” Lin Zhao introduced herself.
Only on entering did she see another mother and child inside.
That female comrade, hearing Lin Zhao, stood up aggressively: “You’re the parent of those twins? They hit my child; how do you plan to handle this?”
Teacher Pan quickly stood, pulled Xu Juanjuan’s mother to sit.
“Comrade, don’t get agitated. Gu Zhiyu and Gu Zhiheng did hit Xu Juanjuan, but he has responsibility too. You can’t push all blame… on Gu Zhiyu and Gu Zhiheng; unfair to them.”
The female comrade calmed down.
Lin Zhao brought dragon-phoenix twins to sit.
She worried the two cubs scared, but unexpectedly little siblings not only unafraid, but puffed up glaring at that sullen-faced female comrade.
Lin Zhao smiled in amusement.
Reached out to rub her children’s heads.
Her eyes calmly looked at Xu Juanjuan’s mother, words gentle: “Xu Juanjuan’s mother, Teacher Pan told me the whole story. Both families’ children at fault. How do you want to handle?”
Lin Zhao polite, female comrade a bit embarrassed, muttered softly: “At least compensate red medicine water?”
Afraid Lin Zhao think her asking too much, she spoke fast: “My Juanjuan has several scrapes; without medicine, who knows days to heal.”
Request reasonable.
Lin Zhao agreed, “Okay.”
Just had some in storage ring.
Using her shoulder bag, took red medicine water from storage ring, placed on table.
“Red medicine water given. Any other issues?”
Xu Juanjuan’s mother stunned, “No, none.”
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded, turned back to Teacher Pan, “Anything else from Teacher Pan?”
“…No.” Teacher Pan hadn’t expected such a handling parent, a bit stunned.
Kids fighting common; if not Xu Juanjuan classmate’s mom insisting, wouldn’t have called Gu Zhiyu and Gu Zhiheng’s mom to school.
Lin Zhao smiled, “Then good, I’ll go first.”
With that, called dragon-phoenix twins and left.
Out the door, went to Yu Baoheng Bao’s classroom, peered through window seeing two cubs sitting properly, seemingly writing, face showed relieved smile.
“Brother!” Yao Bao saw brothers, happily shouted.
The two little brothers’ eyes brightened, showed brilliant smiles.
Then.
Lin Zhao saw Yu Bao say something to teacher; they ran out of classroom.
Once out, Yu Bao hugged Yao Bao.
“Qian Bao, Yao Bao, you came too.” He said happily.
Seeing sister at classroom door new for twins; two little friends very happy.
Heng Bao looked at Lin Zhao’s face, “Mom, did you go to teacher’s office?”
Hearing, Yu Bao’s smile faded, looked nervously.
“Went.” Lin Zhao said, “Matter settled, compensated one bottle red medicine water.”
Twins: “!!”
Heng Bao full face pained, asked Lin Zhao: “Mom, how much for one bottle red medicine water?”
“Two mao.”
“So expensive.” Heng Bao blurted.
Yu Bao volunteered: “Mom, when back home I’ll give you the money.”
“Hm?” Lin Zhao surprised.
“Trouble I and Heng Bao caused; we’ll pay red medicine water money.” Yu Bao seriously.
Finally looked at brother, “Heng Bao, no opinion, right?”
Heng Bao dared not, “…None.”
“Then good, back home you give me one mao, I take one mao.” Yu Bao said.
Lin Zhao no comment.
Dismissal bell rang.
Twins rushed into classroom to pack, then followed mom to state-run restaurant.
They called Bang Bang and others; kids unwilling to go, said family gave money tickets, eating at canteen.
After meal, Lin Zhao sent twins back to school, took Qian Bao and Yao Bao to Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Afternoon few people; salespeople all sitting knitting wool sweaters.
Near three o’clock, Gu Chan hurriedly came to find Lin Zhao.
“Zhaozhao.” Her face full of joy.
Since Wei Xiangdong injured hospitalized, Lin Zhao hadn’t seen such lighthearted smile on Eldest Sister-in-law’s face.
“Eldest Sis, what good news?”
